Man who shot Reagan tries to kill himself

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 9

Man who shot Reagan tries to kill himself

NZPA Washington John Hinckley, awaiting trial on charges of attempting to assassinate President Reagan, tried to hang himself in a military prison yesterday, but was cut down by Federal marshals, the Justice Department announced. A department spokesman. Tom Decair, said the 26-year-old Hinckley was taken to hospital at Ford Meade. Maryland, where he had been confined, and was in a satisfactory condition. He said Hinckley would be held at the base hospital overnight for observation. It was the second time since Hinckley’s arrest on

March 30 at the site of the attack on the President in Washington that he has made an apparent attempt to harm himself. On May 27. while jailed in Butner. North Carolina, Hinckley took an overdose of tylenol, an aspirin substitute, and was taken to the prison infirmary. Mr Decair said that yesterday’s incident occurred at 4.55 p.m.. when Hinckley “tried to hang himself with an article of clothing.” Mr Decair said he did not know what article was used. At the time. Hinckley was confined in a single cell under the observation of Federal marshals u'ho have

watched him around the clock since the May 27 assassination attempt. Hinckley is scheduled to go to trial on January 4 in the Federal District Court in Washington on a 13-count indictment charging him with the attempted assassination of Mr Reagan and with wounding Mr Reagan, a Secret Service agent, a Washington policeman. and the White House press secretary. James Brady, outside the Washington Hilton Hotel. An extensive F. 8.1. investigation has concluded that Hinckley acted alone. Hinckley has pleaded not guilty.